Interchangeable and renewable scenery



Aug. 25, 1936. HOLDEN I 2,052,178

INTERCHANGEABL E AND RENEWABLE SCENERY Filed Oct. 2, 1955 I 3nventor FoxD Holden (lttorneg Patented Aug. 25, 1936 f fjUNIT IDI STATES- PATENT OFFICE 2,052,178 lNTERCHANGEABLE AND. RENEWABLE H V V scanner. 7 r Fox 1). Holden, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.- Y Application October 2, 1935, serial No. 43,169

1 Claim. (c1.2"72--22)" This invention relates primarily to sectional sceneryfor the stage, butmore particularly to interchangeable and renewable scenery for use in the class rooms of schools and the like, the backs orframes being for permanent use, while the surfaces thereof may be changed as, many times as desired thus providing many different sets with the same set of frames. g r I One of the subjects taught in the modern class room is the writing and composing of plays and the like, and the designing and making of the scenery to go with them, and it is desirable to have portable sectional scenery that will be light, compact and which the students may easily construct,and decorate-with many different designs and combinations.

To provide such a device I have conceived the idea of making scenery in interchangeable sections which may be joined together in any desired combination to represent interiors or exteriors and the like, and I have covered these sections with a detachable and renewable covering of paper or other suitable material upon which the student may draw and paint the required design.

Some of these sections are provided with doors which after the covering is decorated may be cut from the main body of the covering, either to provide a door or window as the case may be, and the loose edges held down by tacks which may be painted over.

The objects of the invention are to provide an interchangeable scenery that may be constructed and decorated by students for class room use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an interchangeable sectional scenery which may be arranged in any desired configuration and combination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set of sectional scenery in which the surface coverings are both detachable and renewable so that a number of diiferent surface coverings may be used with the same set of sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set of sectional scenery that will be cheap, durable, efficient and easily transported and erected without special tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set of interchangeable sectional scenery which may be joined together in any desired combination, and which is provided with interchangeable surface covering upon which may be depicted diiferent scenes.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a sectional scenery whereby a detachable surface covering may be secured thereon and retained in a taut condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a sectional scenery whereby the center sections may be braced. to the stage.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel construction and combination of parts as will 'hereinafter be fully described and claimed and further illustrated in the accompanying-drawing which forms a part hereof and in which: like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts'in allof the views.

In the drawing: I

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of several of the-frame sections secured together to form a set or interior scene, with portions of the covering surface cut away to expose the hinges.

Figure 2 shows a rear View of the three center sections illustrating their construction.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail edge View of one of the frames, showing the method employed for attaching the paper and retaining it taut upon the frame.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail View of one corner of a frame, showing the manner of reinforcing the same, and one of the half hinges.

Referring to the drawing:

I have shown a set of frames or sections set up and joined together to form a set or scene as viewed by the audience, and while the frames are here shown as being rectangular in form, they may be of any other desired shape and size.

Each of the frames is composed primarily of the two sides I0 and II which are secured together by the top and bottom rails I2 and I3; their joints being reinforced by the braces I4.

Some of the frames which are intended for walls, etc., have a cross brace I5 which is secured to the side rails Ill and I I by the braces l6; while others of the frames have in place of the cross brace I5, a cross brace I'I near the top of the frame and a vertical door jam I8 which is secured both to the cross brace I1 and the bottom rail I3, and which is provided with a door stop I9 secured both to the jam I8 and the side rail II.

The door 20 is composed of a frame having a cross brace 2| and. attached by the hinges 22 to the side rail III of the frame.

For securing the several frames or sections together in an interchangeable manner, each of the frames is provided with the half hinges 23 which 'can be secured together by the removable pins 24, and the center frames may be provided with the brace legs 25, the upper ends of which enter a clamp 26 secured to the side rails l0 and l l, and the lower ends of which are provided with the spikes 31 for engagement with the floor.

Each frame or section has projecting from the rear side of its bottom rail 13 a series of pins 38, which are intended to hold the lower end of the surface covering 21 which is of paper or other suitable material and which covers the front of the frame; its upper end being brought over the top of the rail I2 and secured between a pair of clamp rods 28 and 29.

These clamp rods 28 and 29 are secured together in a demountable manner by the eye bolts 30 which are inserted through holes provided in the rods 28 and 29, and clamped by the nuts 3|.

For retaining these paper surface coverings in a taut condition both while they are being decorated and used, the springs 32 are provided, which have hooks 33 upon either end for engagement with the eyes 30 and other eyes 34 which are attached to the cross rails or braces l5 and H, or to theside rails l0 and II.

In the operation 'of the device the sections or frames before being jointed together, are first covered with the paper surfaces 21, and each frame may be given to a different person to be decorated, after which the frames are secured together in the suitable order to make up a complete set, and after use, they may be taken apart, the coverings detached and rolled up for storage, and new blank coverings placed thereon to be made into different scenes.

Referring to those frames or sections which contain the doors, these sections are first covered and decorated in the above described manner, and then should a door be required, the paper 21 is cut around the door frame 20, after having the thumb tacks 35 placed adjacent to the cut in both the door and the remaining frame to retain the covering thereto.

Should a window be required, only the upper part of the door 20 is cut out, the lower out being adjacent to the cross brace 2| of the door 20, the edges of the covering being secured in like manner by the thumb tacks 35.

Many other combinations may be devised in the set up of the frames, such as several door sections, or windows, or blank wall sections, and these sets may be designed and decorated to represent interiors, exteriors, landscapes and the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

An interchangeable and renewable scenery, comprising a series of frames having means for interchangeably securing them together to form a set, a renewable covering for said frames adapted to be decorated thereon to represent doors and windows, a series of pins projecting from the frames adjacent their lower edges for engagement with the lower edges of the coverings the upper portion of said coverings adapted to be folded over the upper edges of the frames, clamp bars located to the rear of said frames and secured to the upper ends of said coverings and tension springs attached both to the clamp bars and to the rear of said frames.

FOX D. HOLDEN. 

